William James Foxley

November 23, 2016

Admitted to: RAF Wyrnesworld SSQ. RAF Hospital Cosford (17/03/44).		Date of Injury: 17/03/1944
D.O.B/Age when admitted: 17/08/1923 (20)		Cause of Incident: Crashed in a Wellington at Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
Transferred to QVH: 01/04/1944		Injuries: Burns to face and hands.
No. of Operations at East Grinstead: 30

IDENTITY CARD

This is to certify that the patient mentioned below and whose description is stated hereon is the authorised holder of this Identity card.

Forename: William James			Surname: Foxley
Service No: 1622951			Nationality: British

Awards/Honours: ---			Patient Unit: ---
Profession: Observer			Patient Rank:

Death: December 2010			Age at Death: 87yrs
Dr Rank:			Dr Unit:

Notes:

Foxley's bomber crashed during a training mission - the plane developed a fault at 300ft and crashed, bursting into flames. He managed to escape relatively unscathed but was severely injured when he went back to help the wireless operator who was trapped. The plane blew up, killing three of Foxley's crewmates.

Glossary:

SSQ - Station Sick Quarters

Further Reading:

The Guinea Pig Club' By Edward Bishop.
'McIndoe's Army' By Edward Bishop.

'Who's Who in the Guinea Pig Club', The Guinea Pig, Christmas 1950, p. 60.
'Courage of the 'Guinea Pigs'', Siobhan Ryan, The Argus (Brighton), 1 October 2004, pp. 26-7.
Article, The Daily Telegraph, 16 December 2010.

References:

East Grinstead Museum Collection:
EGRTM 2717.4 - Photograph of Mai Zetterling, actress, Foxley and other Guinea Pigs, c. 1960.
EGRTM 2849.28 - Black & white playing darts.
EGRTM 2733.43 - Framed photograph Foxley and three other Guinea Pigs with Winston Churchill, 1946.
EGRTM 2773.272 - Photograph of Foxley competing in the annual darts match.
EGRTM 2773.289 - Photograph of Foxley and others outside the Guinea Pig pub.
EGRTM 2773.342 - Photograph of Marchwood Park Reunion, 1978, including Foxley.
EGRTM 2773.343 - Photograph of Marchwood Park Reunion, 1993, including Foxley.
EGRTM 2773.673 - Photographs showing the progress of Foxley's facial reconstruction, 1944-51.
EGRTM 2793.32-34 - Photographs from Foxley's wedding.
EGRTM 6536.3 - Booklet from Foxley's funeral.